Page 130 - Sotheby's Speelman Collection Oct. 3, 2018

3429

A RARE CANTON ENAMEL 清十八世紀

‘LYCHEE’ WATERPOT 廣東銅胎畫琺瑯荔枝水丞
QING DYNASTY, 18TH

CENTURY

naturalistically cast in the form of a hollowed lychee fruit with
dimpled skin, the exterior brightly enamelled in pink and light
beige with dabs of deeper pink and black mottling simulating
the original texture of the fruit, borne on a gilt gnarled leafy
stem issuing two smaller attendant fruits and veined leaves in
blue and green enamels, the interior enamelled in sky-blue
9.8 cm, 3⅞ in.

HK$ 150,000-200,000
US$ 19,200-25,500

Canton enamel fruit-form vessels of this quality are rare. The
quality of the current waterpot is high, especially the skilfully
cast leafy stem comprising the handle. For other fruit-form
Canton enamel vessels of this quality at auction, see a Canton
enamel peach-form teapot sold in these rooms, 8th April
2013, lot 3037.
Compare also a waterpot with a four-character Yongzheng
reign mark in black enamel on the base and attributed to
the Beijing palace workshops, from the Qing court collection
and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of
Treasures of the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware,
Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 194, and included in the exhibition,
China. The Three Emperors 1662-1795, Royal Academy of
Arts, London, 2005, cat. no. 295.

128 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比